Student Nurses Love for Medicine, Young People

He has spent countless hours in hospital emergency rooms and local classrooms, and he has sacrificed several summers to spend time learning about medical practices in India.

Further dedicating himself to combining his love of medicine with his compassion for children, the health policy and administration major founded Student Health OUTreach at UNC-CH in fall 2000. His goal was to create a way to educate parents about the health care options available for their children.

The organization was originally an idea proposed as a service project for N.C. Scholars. When the group decided not to pursue the project, Sura adopted the idea to carry out himself.

SHOUT at UNC-CH has 70 members working to link parents to government programs like Medicaid and N.C. Health Choice that provide free or low-cost health insurance. The group works with the county Health Department, Student Health Action Coalition and El Centro Latino to find opportunities to speak with local residents.

SHOUT at UNC-CH became a University-recognized organization in January of 2001, and Sura said he expects it to continue growing and ultimately become independent of larger programs.

One way SHOUT at UNC-CH achieves its goal is by hosting a booth monthly at UNC Hospitals to talk to parents who come in for free treatment night.

But SHOUT at UNC-CH is not the only outlet for Sura's love of service.

When he first arrived at UNC, Sura began volunteering in the emergency room at UNC Hospitals. He raised funds for the Mahatma Gandhi Fellowship, which sponsors students to travel to South Asia and to pursue a project that helps that area.

Taking his love of children into the community, Sura tutored reading at Glenwood Elementary School last year. "It is a lot easier to be sympathetic toward children because they are just so helpless," Sura said. "I loved being able to tell I was making a difference."

His philanthropic activities also have extended far beyond Chapel Hill.

While in India last summer, Sura worked with a doctor in a local village for two weeks, mostly observing. Sura said he was amazed at the amount of faith the villagers put into the doctor.

Sura said these experiences strengthened both his love for medicine and helping others. Through SHOUT at UNC-CH, Sura found an opportunity to combine these passions.

Just working with Sura, SHOUT at UNC-CH members said they notice something different about him. "He seems like a very caring person," said Erika Sturm, a member of the group. "He is a great guy to work with."

In addition to volunteer work, Sura also values his culture and music. He has played the tabla, an Indian drum, for seven years and practices consistently. He performs with his parents yearly at Navratri, a Hindu festival.

This summer Sura plans to continue his medical interests in a 12-week internship at a health care consultant firm in Australia.

Sura said this experience will enable him to understand other health care systems. "You need to know what's effective in other countries," he said.

Always goal-oriented, Sura much of his future already mapped out. He is interested in attending medical school and plans to work in an emergency room.

But Sura's ultimate mission is to continue the type of work he's begun with SHOUT at UNC-CH on a national level. He plans to work in Washington, D.C., to reform the health delivery system. Sura said he wants to ensure that everyone receives equal coverage and is aware of the options available.

"When decisions are made in D.C. about health insurance, the ones making the decisions do not actually have the clinical experience," Sura said.

"I want to take my personal experiences from the ER to Washington and make a difference."

The Features Editor can be reached at features@unc.edu.